How many CLE credits do Arizona attorneys need?

You may begin reporting CLE credits in Arizona when the affidavit filing system opens in early June, immediately after the compliance year ends on June 30.
The reporting window then remains open until the September 15 deadline.

Key Details

• Arizona’s CLE year runs July 1 through June 30.
• The online affidavit system typically opens in early June to allow attorneys to begin filing.
• All CLE must be completed by June 30, but you may log in and prepare your affidavit as soon as the system opens.
• The filing deadline for the affidavit is September 15 each year.
• Attorneys should verify their CLE records on the State Bar of Arizona’s dashboard before submitting the affidavit.

Key Takeaway: In Arizona, you can begin reporting as soon as the affidavit window opens in early June, and you must file no later than September 15 for the prior compliance year.

You report CLE credits in Arizona by filing an electronic affidavit through your State Bar member dashboard by September 15.
This affidavit certifies credits earned during the compliance year ending June 30.

Overview of Arizona MCLE Reporting

The compliance cycle runs July 1 through June 30.
Attorneys must complete 15 hours annually, including 3 ethics.
Arizona does not preapprove providers; attorneys self-report credits.
Affidavits are due September 15; late credits or filings may incur fees, and failure to comply by December 15 may lead to suspension.

Steps to Report CLE in Arizona

• Complete your 15 hours by June 30.
• Enter CLE events (provider, date, hours, ethics designation) into your CLE tracking page.
• File your affidavit of compliance online by September 15.
• If selected for audit, provide certificates or proof of attendance.
• If you earned credits through Sprout Education and Arizona permits provider reporting, confirm that they appear in your CLE tracking record (we submit them where allowed).

Key Takeaway: In Arizona, log your CLE credits and submit your affidavit by September 15. Sprout Education helps by reporting courses automatically where accepted, but you must still file your affidavit.

The grace period for CLE reporting in Arizona begins July 1 and extends through September 15 following the end of the reporting year. This allows attorneys extra time after the June 30 deadline to file their affidavit of compliance without the most severe penalties.

Arizona CLE Overview

• Compliance year: July 1 to June 30.
• CLE credits must be earned by June 30.
• Affidavit of compliance must be filed by September 15.

Delinquency Fees & Late Filing

• If CLE is completed after June 30 (but before July 31): $33 delinquency fee.
• August 1–August 31: $67 delinquency fee.
• September 1–September 15: $133 delinquency fee.
• For late affidavits filed September 16–October 15: $133 filing fee; October 16–November 15: $166; after that: $200.
• Failure to file by December 15 may lead to motion for summary suspension.

Key Takeaway: Arizona gives attorneys a three-month grace window after June 30 — until September 15 — to file their CLE affidavit, though increased fees apply for delayed submissions.

Attorneys in Arizona must file an annual MCLE affidavit through the State Bar’s online CLE Tracking Dashboard. You log into your Member Dashboard, verify your reported CLE hours, then click “File Affidavit” before the September 15 deadline.

Key Details:

• The MCLE educational year runs from July 1 to June 30.
• Use the CLE Tracking Dashboard to enter CLE events (self-study, teaching, etc.).
• Filing the affidavit online updates your record in real time; no paper copy is required.
• If filing late, a delinquent filing or compliance fee applies.
• If you are exempt (inactive, retired, or judicial on June 30), you do not need to file.

Key Takeaway: Arizona attorneys self-report CLE annually via the Bar’s online affidavit system using the CLE Dashboard, with a hard filing deadline of September 15.

Acceptable CLE credit in Arizona includes: live CLE programs, webcasts, on-demand (recorded) courses, teaching approved legal education, writing legal articles, and qualifying pro bono service under Rule 45.

To count, activities must have attorneys as the primary audience, present significant legal or ethical content, supply an agenda/materials, issue attendance certificates, and be claimed only once per year.

Details

• Arizona requires 15 CLE hours annually, with at least 3 hours in ethics.
• CLE hour calculation: one hour = 50 minutes of instruction; programs must be claimed only once.
• Pro bono service credit: 1 CLE hour may be claimed for every 5 hours of qualified pro bono work (max self-study credit allowed).
• Carryover: up to 15 credits (including 3 ethics) may carry forward into the next compliance period.
• Self-study and teaching hours (and pro bono credit) must be manually entered by the attorney on the CLE Tracking system.

Key Takeaway

In Arizona, CLE credit counts for live, webcast/on-demand programs, teaching, writing, and approved pro bono service—provided they satisfy Rule 45 standards such as legal content, proper format, and certificate of attendance.

No — Arizona does not impose a requirement that attorneys attend a minimum number of CLE hours in a physical, in-person setting.

Its MCLE framework permits credit for “Interactive CLE,” which includes live webcasts, teleconferences, and programs with real-time participation, as well as “Self-study” (recorded, non-interactive formats) subject to limits.

Details

• Arizona attorneys must complete 15 CLE credit hours per year, of which 3 hours must be in professional responsibility (ethics) topics.
• At least 10 of those hours must be earned through Interactive CLE formats (live in-person, live webcast, teleconference, or online with required interaction).
• Up to 5 hours may be earned via Self-study (non-interactive, recorded courses).
• The CLE regulations define “Interactive CLE” to include in-person courses and real-time online programs that allow participant interaction (questions, prompts, etc.).
• There is no portion of the requirement that must only be satisfied by attending courses in a classroom (i.e. the rules do not mandate in-person only hours).

Key Takeaway

Arizona requires a portion of CLE to be interactive (live formats), but does not mandate a fixed number of in-person classroom hours — live webcasts and other interactive formats equally satisfy that component.